Seraphina nodded in agreement with Greta's words.
"Yes, it's basically impossible to work with it to the extent that it makes no sense. And when you think that the Village warriors can control such energy, that only adds more ridiculousness to the issue," Seraphina said solemnly. "Why don't you head back home and get some rest? I can tell that you are already worn out and need to rest."
"No, I can wait until you are done because I still have a few more methods I want to try and see if they work," Greta insisted.
She knew how determined Seraphina could be when faced with the unpredictable nature of certain magical occurrences that challenged her logical mindset.
Greta wasn't willing to give her the leeway to act as she pleased, especially when their experiment's main subject, this time, was the Vylkr vine.
Seraphina looked at Greta from the corners of her eyes and sighed tiredly. Just as she was about to respond, a knock sounded on the door, interrupting her words.
"I will get it," Seraphina said as she walked towards the door and pulled it open.
Upon seeing that it was Orion, Seraphina's demeanour immediately changed as she jumped on him, hugging him tightly, oblivious to the Village Chief's presence and the others' presence.
For the Village Chief and the others, such closeness was ordinary. However, for Queen Selene, who still found it challenging to adapt to the village's traditions, Seraphina's actions were an incredible show of affection.
Greta watched the scene from afar and couldn't help but shake her head in defeat, observing Seraphina's complete change in demeanour.
No wonder her other sisters found it difficult to be around her.
Nonetheless, Greta understood that she had a lot on her hands to do.
Meanwhile, as Orion felt Seraphina's fleshy thighs around his waist, along with the vulva area of her panties softly pressing against his clothed shaft, he immediately controlled himself, preventing his shaft from hardening more than it already had before she let go, and descended soon after.
Orion cleared his throat and quickly regained his composure, "Ahem! We just came to find out what you have discovered about the strange Vylkr vine," Orion asked seriously as he looked at Seraphina before shifting his attention towards Greta.
The demeanour around Seraphina shifted again, adopting a much more professional tone. She walked over to the furnace, grabbed the crystalline cylinder housing the burnt remains of the Vylkr vine that she had swapped, and placed it fiercely on the table in the centre of the room.
Fortunately, the crystalline glass had been reinforced with magic, so breaking it wasn't easy.
"Nothing. We have tried everything to find something wrong with the Vylkr vine or maybe explain why it had changed into how you found it. However, we couldn't find anything, no matter how hard we tried. All our efforts were useless," Seraphina said.
Hearing Seraphina's words, Orion and the Village Chief suddenly frowned in response.
"So you're saying we can't know why the Vylkr vine became like this?" Orion asked, with a contemplating expression.
Seraphina nodded in response.
"But there must be something you must have come up with, right?" The Village Chief asked, his tone filled with seriousness.
"Unfortunately, no," Greta responded, shaking her head with a tired sigh escaping her lips.
She had been here throughout the night trying to come up with an explanation for the Vylkr vine.
"Though, there is one explanation we have that might have some relevance," Greta added hesitatingly.
"Go on then, what is the explanation you have come up with," the Village Chief said.
Orion, Stronghold Leader Zogar, Stronghold Leader Seth, and Queen Selene also focused on Greta, waiting for her explanation.
Greta turned her head to look at Seraphina. Seeing Seraphina nod in response, Greta replied, "You know how the life cycle of Vylkr vine growth works, right?"
The Village Chief nodded, "For a one-star Vylkr vine, their primary goal is exploring their environment and identifying potential sources of life to consume. The two-star Vylkr vine develops spikes along its length, enhancing its predatory capabilities."
"They become more aggressive in seeking out and ensnaring their targets, using the spikes for offence and defence. They are also more efficient at capturing and subduing their targets. The three-star Vylkr vine undergoes a significant transformation. They amalgamate, forming a grotesque, headless entity with multiple limbs, sometimes three or four legs."
"At this stage, there is a higher level of coordination among the Vylkr vines, enabling them to collectively communicate with one another and coordinate their attacks," the Village Chief explained.
After decades of battling the Vylkr vines as warriors, it was safe to say that he knew them like the back of his hand.
Greta nodded in response, "Exactly. From what we know and the information that we currently possess, every stage of the Vylkr vine's growth is basically in a way to effectively fulfil its primary function, which is to seek out sources of life to consume," Greta explained, "So, our explanation is this - what if instead of something being wrong with the strange Vylkr vine that was captured yesterday, it was merely a natural occurrence, and what we have found is simply another life cycle in the growth of the Vylkr vines."
BOOOM!! BOOOM!! BOOOM!!
The moment Greta finished speaking, the Village Chief, Orion, and even Stronghold Leader Zogar, Stronghold Leader Seth, and Queen Selene's eyes widened in disbelief as they felt their minds tremble, as though Greta's words had penetrated and exploded inside their heads.
An almost unnatural silence settled within the enclosed room before it was immediately interrupted.
"...What did you say?" The Village Chief asked, his voice mixed with a hint of doubt. His eyes stared at Greta with a turbulent mix of emotions as he awaited her response.
Greta shook her head tiredly at their reactions after they had heard her words. She remembered how she had also reacted, Seraphina's stunned and dumbfounded expression when they came up with this explanation, and their failed attempts to ensure it wasn't the case.
So, she had expected their reaction to be like this, as it was completely natural.
....
Author's Note: It should be clear how they developed a mixture to suppress Orion's incredible reproduction capabilities.
Also, what do you think is the strange Vylkr vine?
